Smoker&#39;s article



April 27, 1926. 1,582,025

'E. CALDWELL SMOKERS ARTICLE Filed Feb. 14, 1924 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES EPWIN CALDWELL, OF NEW YORK, N". Y.

SMOKERS ARTICLE.

Application filed February 14, 1924. Serial No. 692,664.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN CALDWELL,

a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smokers Articles, ofwhichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description:

This invention relates to smokers articles, and particularly to articles for the storage of matches and cigarettes or cigars, and has for an object to provide an improved article for this purpose with which the matches, cigars and cigarettes are readily and conveniently accessible for removal as desired; with which the striking surface of the shell of a match box may be utilized for the striking of matches; and which will be attractive in appearance, convenient, simple, compact, durable and relatively inexpensive. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1- is a perspective ofan article of thistype which has been constructed in accordance with the invention; p

Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of the same; 1

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation through the same, taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

F ig, t is a perspective of one of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is aperspective of a part of the same.

The cigarette, cigar and match supports usually employed for smokers stands, tables and articles, or in smokers? rooms, are frequently unsightly because of the display of the match boxes. Safety matches, which are so commonly used, require a special chemically coated striking surface for their striking, and this surface needs renewal from time to-time. In accordance withthis invention a renewable. striking surface will be provided 111 a simple manner and theunsightly match box carrying the surface usually used will be concealed.

Referring particularly to- Figs-1 to 4, a

rent its displacement.

of sheet metal, carriesa vertical enclosure" ablemanner, such as by tongues 3 of the wall passing through suitable apertures in the base and turned over or upset so as to provide an anchorage. This vertical wall 2 forms with the base an open receptacle for the storage of a number of cigars or cigarettes. A cover 4 is provided for the enclosure formed by the wall 2, and has a flange 5 overlying the wall- 2 so as to pre- Another vertical enclosure wall 6 is mounted upon the cover 5, being secured thereon in any suitable manner, such as by tongues 7 which pass through apertures in the cover and are turned over or upset to provide anchorage. A partition 8 extend across the interior of the enclosure formed by the wall 6 so as to divide it into two compartments. In the upper compartment a supply of matches 9 may be stored, and these matches may be placed in the upper compartment without removal from the in her shell or box 10 of the container in which they are marketed,

One end of the enclosure 6 is openand may be closed by a removable end wall 11 extension 13 integral therewith, which isv adapted to enter the lower compartment of the enclosure formed by the wall 6 when the end wall 11 is appliedthereto. The extension 13 has side flanges 14 upon its two opposite sides. I

The extension 13 and its flanges 14 are of such size that they will receive and frictionally hold the outer shell of a safety match box, andthe lower compartment of the enclosure formed by the wall 6 is of such size that during its closure by the end wall 11, the extension 13 with the outer shell of the match box thereon, may be inserted into the lower compartment of the upper enclosure. The flanges 1e preferably have a slight outward spring, so that when the match box shell is to be applied thereto,

the flanges may be pressed toward one an other slightly, while theshellis slid thereover, and then when released will frictionally grip the shell of the match box.

' The end wall '11 also has an extension 15 which is adapted to extend over the upper open face of the upper enclosure, that is,

over the upper open face of the upper com-' partment of the upper enclosure, so as to confine the matches therein when the end wall 11 is applied to the upper enclosure. The upper extension 15 is provided with a flange 16 extending parallel with the end wall 11, so that when the end wall closure 11 is completely applied to the upper enclosure, the flange. 16 will snap over the opposite end of the enclosure to retain the end wall 11 in its closed position.

The extension 15 is of less width than the open face of the upper con'ipartment so that this extension will form, with one of the upper edges of the wail (i; a slot 17 through which the matches 9 may be withdrawn one or two at a time, as needed. To facilitatethe removal of the matches tl'irough the slot 17 the upper extension 15 may have a finger notch 18 therein, leading from the edge forn'iing a part of the slot 1. to permit one's finger to be inserted into the upper compartment for engaging and pulling the matches through the slot 17.

The flange 16 on the upper extension 15 is provided with a struck out protuberance 19 upon its inner face, which is adapted to enter a corresponding cavity or indentation 20 in the abutting part of the wall (3, so that when the flange ltiis snapped over the wall 6, the protuberance 19 will snap into the cavity 20 and accordingly hold the upper extension 15 against upward flexure. The wall 6, upon one side, is provided with an open window 21 which will expose for access, the chemically treated striking surface 2 of the outer shell 23 of a match box which may be carried by the extension 13 of the end wall 11.

This article may he mounted upon. desks or tables to be used by smokers, or upon cigar or cigarette stands in connection with ash trays and the like. By grasping the upper enclosure the cover may be removed to provide access to'the lower enclosure for the insertion or removal of cigarettes or cigars. The compartment formed by the lower enclosure wall 2 will keep cigars or cigarettes in a proper moist condition by reason of the fact that it is normally closed by the cover 5.

To stock the device with matches the ordinai v safety match hox sections are separated. The end wall 11 is removed by springing the flange. 16 upwardly and flexing the extension upwardly to release the end wall and permit of its removal from the upper enclosure. The outershell of the match box carrying the striking surface is placed over the lower extension- 13 of the end closure 11, and the inner section of the match box is inserted into the upper compartment of the upper enclosure, as shown, with the open face upwardly. If desired, the matches may be removed from the original box and placed inaloose condition in then-pper conr partment. The end closure or wall 11 is then reapplied to the upper enclosure to complete the same, during which rea pplication of the closure wall 11, the extension 12- with the outer shell of the match box there on will be inserted into the lower compartment of the upper enclosure, with the striking surface of the match box shell exposed through the open window 21. The extension then fiex'cd downwardly and the flange 16 thereof snapped into locking enga ementwith the enclosing wall (5.

The smoker may insert his linger through the notch 18, grasp a match, and then pull. it through the slot 17, after which he may conveniently ignite it by striking the same upon the striking surface 22 of the match box. There is no danger of igniting the matches remaining in the upper compartment whiie striking any match, and consequently there wiil be no fire hazard by reason of the use 0 i this particular article. When the matches are exhausted, the end wall 11 and the old outer shell 23 of the match box may be re moved, the new box shell applied to the extension 13. the matches from the new box placed in the upper compartment, and the end wall re-applied to the upper enclosure. Thus a new striking surface will be P1r yided for each box of matches used.

The restocking of the article with a new supply of matches in this manner, occupies but a moment of time, and may be performed conveniently by anyone. The striking surface of the box shell will remain stationary during the striking operation by reason of its frictional support upon the flanges 14 of the lower extension.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and in this embodiment the cover 5 carries an enclosing wall 6 which is subdivided by a partition 8 into upper and lower compartments. The upper con'ipartmentis closed by a lid 24, having end flanges 25 which are adapted to snap over the ends of the enclosure 'all 6, and the flanges 25 may have protuberances 26 snapping into cavities 27 of the enclosing wall 6 for yieldingly holding the lid 24 in closed position upon the enclosing wall 6. The lid 24 has one side edge spaced from the upper edge of the enclosing wall 6, so as to form a narrow slot similar to the slot 17 of Figs. 1 to t, through which the matches may be removed, and the lid may also have a finger notch 28, similar to the notch of Fi 's. 1 to s, to facilitate the removal of the matches from the upper compartment, as needed.

In this embodiment the end wall 29. corresponding somewhat to the end wall 11 of Figs. 1 to 4, closes merely the end of the lower compartment of the enclosure; and has an extension 1 3 with the side flange 14-, which are adapted to' receive and fric tionally hold the outer shell 23 of the match box.- A tongue 30 struck from the extension 13 is bent at its free end to form a latch which will snap into an aperture or depression 82 in the cover 5 when the extension 13 is inserted into the lower compartment. The tongue will normally hold the extension l3 within the lower compartment, butwill yield when sufiicient pull or pressure is applied to the end wall 29, so as to permit of the removal or insertion of the latter. The use of this embodiment of this invention is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4:.

In both embodiments of the invention, the cover 5 also serves as a base for the upper enclosure carried thereby, when one desires to use this section alone, and may be used in connection with the base 1 of the enclosure 2 when desired. All of the parts ofthe invention are readily formed of stamped sheet metal, and by reason of the use of dies for stamping and bending the sheet metal into suitable form and shape, the cost of production of such an article will be low. The article may be given any desired finish or polish to conform witlrthe finish of the other articles with which it may be associated in use.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A smokers article comprising a casing, having therein a chamber for the storage of the contents of a match box, and another chamber with an open window leading directly thereto, a member for receiving and supporting the outer shell of the match box, inscrtable with the shell thereon into and out of the chamber with the window, so that a striking surface of the shell will close said window when disposed within the easa the casing, said member and easing having co-acting latch parts for holding the member against movement when a match is struck against said surface. a

S. A smokers article comprising a casing, having therein a chamber for the storage of the contents of a match box, and another chamber with an open window leading directly thereto, a member for receiving and supporting the outer shell of the match box, insertable with the shell thereon into and out of the chamber with the window, so that a striking surface of the shell will close said window when disposed within the easmg, said member having an extension overlying the match storage chamber to confine the matches therein when the member is within the casing.

4. A smokers article comprising a casing, having therein a chamber for the storage of the contents of a match box, and another chamber with an open window leading directly thereto, a member for receiving and supporting the outer shell of the match box, insertable with the shell thereon into and out of the chamber with the window, so that a striking surface of the shellwill close said window when disposed within the casing, said member having an extension overlying the match storage chamber to con fine the matches therein when the member is within the casing, the extension having an opening through which the matches may be withdrawn in small quantities at a time.

5. A smokers article comprising a base, a vertical wall on said base forming an enclosure thereon in which cigars or cigarettes may be stored, a cover for said inclosure fitting the vertical wall, a vertical wall on said cover forming an enclosure thereon, and a horizontal wall dividing the second enclosure into two compartments, one for the reception of the contents of a match box and the other for the reception of the outer shell of said box, said second enclosure having therein an openwindow exposing the striking face ofthe box shell for the striking of matches.

6. A smokers article comprising a base, avertical wall on said base forming an enclosure thereon in which cigarsor cigarettes may be stored, a cover for said enclosure fitting the vertical wall, a vertical wall on said cover forming an enclosure thereon, a horizontal wall dividing the sec ond enclosure into two compartments, the second enclosure having therein an open window leading to the lower compartment so that if the outer shell of a match box is placed in the lower compartment, its stiking surface will be readily accessible through the window for the striking of matches thereon, a closure for the upper compartment providing a slot along one edge with a finger notch leading thereto whereby when matches are stored in the upper compartment they may be easily withdrawn through the slot by ones finger inserted through the notch.

7. A smokers article comprising a receptacle, a partition across the interior of the receptacle dividing it into upper and'lower compartments, the upper one for the storage of matches and the lower one forthe storage of the outer shell of a match box, the receptacle having in a lateral wall, an open window leading to the lower compartment through which access may be had to the striking surface of the said outer shell for the striking of matches thereon, and a closure for the upper compartment providing a slot along one edge, with a finger notch leading thereto whereby the matches in the upper compartment may be easily withdrawn through the slot by ones finger inserted through the notch.

8. A smokers article comprising a casing divided into two compartments, in one of which matches may be stored, the other compartment having an open window in an outer wall of the casing a member for receiving and supporting the outer shell of a match box inscrtable into and removable from said compartment having the window, to position the striking surface of the shell at the open window so as to be readily accessible for the striking of matches thereon, and a resilient latch member carried by the member and engaging with the casing for securing the member against movement when within the casing.

r 9. A smokers article comprising a casing divided into two compartments, in one of which matches may be stored, the other compartment having an open window in an outer wall of the casing, a member for receiving and supporting the outer shell of a match box insertable into and removable from said compartment having the window, to position the striking surface of the shell at the open window so as to be readily accessible for the striking of matches thereon and an extension on said member closing the match storage compartment and having a flange snapping over a side of the easing when the member is within the casing,

said extension forming, with one edge of the casing, a slot through which the matches may be withdrawn and having a finger notch leading to said slot through which ones finger may be inserted to facilitate removal of the matches through the slot.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

EDWIN CALDWELL. 

